Very sad news to pass along today … Ray Manzarek, one of the founding members of the iconic LA rock band The Doors, passed away at the age of 74 today. News of Manzarek‘s passing was announced on the official Facebook profile for The Doors. According to the statement, Ray succumbed to cancer. Blah. Even tho late lead singer Jim Morrison is the person that most people think about when they think of The Doors, Manzarek was just as integral to the band’s success as Morrison was. Ugh, this is such sad news. Click below to read the full text of this very sad death announcement.

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, passed away today at 12:31PM PT at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer. He was 74. At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by his wife Dorothy Manzarek, and his brothers Rick and James Manczarek.

Manzarek is best known for his work with The Doors who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison. The Doors went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100-million albums worldwide, and receiving 19 Gold, 14 Platinum and five multi-Platinum albums in the U.S. alone. “L.A.Woman,” “Break On Through to the Other Side,” “The End,” “Hello, I Love You,” and “Light My Fire” were just some of the band’s iconic and ground-breaking songs. After Morrison’s death in 1971, Manzarek went on to become a best-selling author, and a Grammy-nominated recording artist in his own right. In 2002, he revitalized his touring career with Doors’ guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger.

“I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek today,” said Krieger. “I’m just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him.”

Manzarek is survived by his wife Dorothy, brothers Rick and James Manczarek, son Pablo Manzarek, Pablo’s wife Sharmin and their three children Noah, Apollo and Camille. Funeral arrangements are pending. The family asks that their privacy be respected at this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please make a memoriam donation in Ray Manzarek’s name at www.standup2cancer.org

What a lovely eulogy. Ray Manzarek will be missed. I can’t say that I’m a big classic rock fan. I only like a few albums by the Rolling Stones and only a few songs by The Beatles … but The Doors? Yeah, I love everything they ever put out. I cannot deny that Jim Morrison’s sexy persona was a huge draw for me when I first discovered The Doors but that haunting keyboard sound that is a trademark of the band, yeah, that’s all Ray Manzarek. I’ve always said that he was my favorite member of The Doors, pretty equal with Jim Morrison. I loved that Ray Manzarek stayed active in the world of music for as long as possible. He was a true artist and a bona fide rock legend. My thoughts and prayers go out to Manzark’s family and friends. Rest well, Ray, and thank you profusely for your amazing gift of music.

Lovely post Trent, well said. Ray’s keyboards were as integral to The Doors as Jim’s voice. How many times have you jammed out to a Doors song and pretended to play air keys? (I’m specifically thinking about Break on Through) RIP Ray, I hope is family will heal.